Near death experience, truck totaled :(

NEVER, EVER, sell your Tacoma!

I was driving down to Texas, had my stuff in a 5x8 uhaul trailer. Got rear-ended on I-44. Near as we've been able to piece together, I slammed into the right-hand guardrail, bounced off of it, the trailer tipped and took the truck with it onto the driver side. Slid about 200 feet through the median on my side, took out about 50 feet of guard wire, and finally came to rest. I walked away with a tiny, small scratch on my right arm. Got checked out at the hospital, no internal injuries, nothing. Camper shell went airborne.

Here's a picture:

Paramedics said that I should have died and they've never seen anyone walk away from something like this. The cab remained structurally intact, everything inside of it is fine. I'm stuck in Lebanon, MO until Monday, which really, really sucks. Definitely getting another tacoma, this one saved my life.

 

Wow, Glad you're alright! These taco's sure do have a good reputation for keeping drivers safe! Hope it all works out for you!

 

Glad your ok OP, that shizle looks scary. Hope all goes well

 

Glad you walked away. Truck looks in decent shape for that accident.... nice "diehard" peek.

 

the bumpers INSIDE the cab!?!?!?

Just kidding, glad you're okay op, that looks nuts. Gotta love our trucks!

 

Damn that sucks!!! I hope all your stuff made it out as well!!!

 

Glad you are okay OP.

 

I'm waiting for the rest of the photos to upload to dropbox. I think that mechanically it is still 'driveable.' Airbags didn't deploy, and the engine was still running when it stopped. Insurance is going to be a nightmare, I had a 5'x4' laser cutter in the bed that's basically scrap metal now. I have no idea what I got hit by, I was trapped in the cab until EMS let me kick the windshield out. XD

I love the die hard peeking out, tacoyota. If it were up to me, I'd just take the doors off, replace the headlights and windshield and keep driving it.

 

Looks like more than your tacoma was looking out for you, glad you're OK. Sucks about the truck, but they make more everyday.

 

Holy Crap!! Glad things turned out well for you (no injuries).

 

Here's the folder with all the pictures, if anyone cares.

http://db.tt/q3QmDBaI

 

Glad you're okay!

I'm surprised the airbags didn't deploy.

 

Glad to hear that you are ok! That Tacoma definitely saved you as a scratch is nothing to what could have happened.

Out of curiosity did you have the driver side window up or down? I ask as my buddy was in a similar accident and lost half his hand because the window was open and it got caught on something.

 

Wow, amazing you walked away from it!

As you well know, life and limb are what is important, they build those trucks everyday.

 

Imagine the crash forces necessary to do this:



Wish you the best of luck with the insurance claim. It's going to be a handful getting compensation for the truck, the laser cutter, the U-haul trailer and all your stuff.

 

Window was up and I had a death grip (no pun intended) on 10 & 2. Guy said that he "thought I was going faster and didn't hit the brakes in time." I was surprised the airbags didn't deploy, too. I replaced the bench seat with buckets a few years back, it's possible that I didn't connect something right. Either way, I think I'm glad they didn't.

 

Wow definitely luck man! I'm surprised the air bags didn't deploy either.

Glad to hear you are ok at the end of the day, I'm sure insurance will help you out with your laser cutter and next Tacoma!

 

Glad you made it out okay but do not settle or sign off with the insurance co until a month out. Sometime injuries tend to surface a few wks later and be long term.

 

Good to hear you are ok.

Look on the bright side. You will now most likely be able to get a color matched shell?

As for the air bags they only go off if the vehicle decelerates fast like a head on, hitting a brick wall. When you roll and slide around they should not go off. Only on the newer ones with the side rollover bags to protect your head from slamming the side of the truck.

And yeah how the hell did that hitch just snap off. Damn.

 

Wow. Glad you're okay bro.